On Friday, captain Mohammad Rizwan once again came up big for Multan Sultans, leading his side from the front and scoring 76 runs in his team’s successful run chase of the modest 158-run target set by Lahore Qalandars at the National Stadium Karachi

Although the target set wasn’t big, the Sultans were in trouble, having lost former Qalandar Chris Lynn in the opening over and being wobbled again at 30-2.

Rizwan (76) and Sohaib Maqsood then stabilized the ship, with the former in particular doing most of the damage and continuing his fine form that has now seen him score in double figures in six straight matches for franchise and country.

Earlier, Lahore had recovered from 17-2 to post 157-6, thanks to the other form player of the tournament, Mohammad Hafeez.

The Professor, fresh from his match-winning 73 against Quetta the other night, scored another 60 off just 35 in a knock that personified his trademark controlled aggression.

Had he not been ran out in the 17th over, the Qalandars could possibly have ended up with a total greater than they got.